Facts on the Kumari Living Goddess in Nepal

Revered as a living
goddess the Kumari are young girls who have a Newari/Hindu deity living within them

During my time in Nepal I visited and learned about the Kumari living goddesses as they are today. Much has changed compared to even five years ago.

I encourage you to keep an open mind when learning about the Kumari in Nepal. Avoid the tours and guides who will try to take you see them. Visit yourself independently, it's easy. And do read my personal blog posts about visiting the Kumaris at the bottom of this page.

The Kumari or Kumari Devi comes from the Hindu faith however most of the "traditional" Kumari in Kathmandu are Newari (original settlers of the Kathmandu Valley). In Nepal the Kumari is a prepubescent girl selected by a council from the Newari people that acts as a manifestation of divine female energy.

A Nepali Kumari is believed to be the living incarnation of the goddess Talejualso known as Durga. This continues until after menstruation when the goddess Taleju vacates her body. Illness and loss of blood due to injury can also mean the goddess leaves the girls body.

The idea behind this leads to writings stating that the goddess resides in all female living beings in this universe of which the cosmos was made from her womb. As the goddess believes in chastity and impurity a young child is therefore the ideal choice to house the goddess on earth.

Today the word Kumari means "virgin" which is important to remember as we delve deeper into this fascinating living legend.

Both the Hindu and Nepali histories of the Kumari are vast and intricate dating back 2,300 years to virgin worship in India.

Kumari's in Nepal only became evident in the 17th century. That said there is also evidence of virgin worship in Nepal dating back to the 6th century during the Licchavi period. Today many people mix the two histories up. This sadly results in several backlashes from other cultures.

There are several legends that tell of how the Kumari came to be in Nepal. From the goddess visiting King Jayaprakash Malla in his dreams. To the same King angering the goddess for making sexual advances. To the King's wife learning of the banishment of a young girl possessed by the goddess telling the King to bring her back as the living embodiment of the goddess.

Today there are many Kumari in Nepal. Indeed, unknown to many, most Newari villages have a "Kumari". However it is the royal Kumari of Kathmandu that is the most senior and well known.

On September 28th 2017 the Kathmandu Kumari, Matina Shakya, stepped down and three year old Trishna Shakya, was appointed the new Kumari Liviing Goddess.

Once the current Kumari is no longer eligible to be a vessel for the goddess a national or regional search begins to find an appropriate successor. There are many criteria that a council of Newari have to make sure are met. These include the thirty-two perfections of a goddess. Some of which are:

A body like a banyan tree

Thighs like a deer

Eyelashes like a cow

Twenty unbroken teeth should be present

Hair and eyes should be very black

Keep in mind these are just some of the necessities in being a Kumari. For example the selection process itself for the Kathmandu Kumari involves even more:

During the Kalratri, or 'black night' ritual 108 buffaloes and goats are sacrificed.The young girl is taken into the Taleju temple's courtyard where the severed heads of the animals are illuminated by candles and masked men dance about. The child must show no fear during any of this.

Finally the girl must spend a night with slaughtered heads of the animals and again show no fear.

If she passes these tests the girl is taken for ritual cleansing of her past life. Adorned with the Kumari clothes and taken to her new house where she shall remain without seeing her past family until such time as the goddess leaves her (usually her first menstruation).

The above are the strict and official rules. Today many of the Kumari do get to see their families and indeed the families live with them.

Once living in her residence the Kumari will only leave on official ceremonial duties. Today, due to social change, the Kathmandu Kumari's family may visit on formal occasions (other Kumari's live with their families). Her friends will be chosen from those of her caste. She will be educated by her caregivers. He feet will never touch the outside ground again though on ceremonial occasions worshipers will want to touch them.

Today many politicians and royalty still visit the Royal Kumari seeking a blessing for their duties.

One may petition to visit the Kumari but never talk with her. It is believed that a look from the Kumari will tell one's future wealth, health and status. These include:

Picking at food offerings will be associated with financial losses

Crying is associated with illness or death

Trembling means an impending imprisonment

Silence is perhaps the greatest thing for a visitor as it means their wishes are likely to be upheld

Many visit the Kumari with blood or menstruation problems due to her association with the subject.

The girl is immediately regarded as a normal child and given back to her parents. A small token pension is awarded to her. In the past such abrupt changes were said to psychologically damage a child. Going from goddess with everything provided for you to simply being an everyday child. However, the reality seems a little more sedate as you can read later.

There is also a legend about of how a Kumari's spouse will die early leading to the now normal girl never getting married. Several modern day Kumari's have come out and disregarded many harsh aspects of the life of a Kumari.

Tourism has had a damaging effect on the Kumari in many respects. In 2007, Sajani Shakya, the Kumari of Bhaktapur after visiting the US to attend the release of a documentary about the Kumari, was removed from her position by an elder council. This was for breaking the Kumari tradition of letting her feet touch the ground and leaving her residence. After much debate she was reinstated after a re-cleansing ceremony.

In Patan a tour company began charging tourists $50 to visit the Kumari there. However it was revealed here that they never paid the family more than a token gesture. The family stopped the tour guides coming in. Sadly with several new Kumaris more tour guides are "trying it on" again unbeknownt to the families .

The Kumari gets a token pension after leaving the position. Depending on their status the nominal amount can be as little as 50 rupees a month.

In recent times several former Kumari have written about their time as a Kumari. Most simply continue on their lives as best they can and settle back into a normal life in Nepal.

Avoid all tour companies offering tours to visit a Kumari. You don't need a tour to visit a Kumari. Despite saying they are socially responsible community supporting companies these tour companies are rip-offs.

It was previously stopped. But in 2018 several Nepali tour companies and guides are offering paid tours to the Kumari once again. These companies and guides are cheating both tourists, the Kumari and their families.

There is no entrance fee to visit any of the Kumaris. Yet these tour companies are charging tourists for the "opportunity to see a living goddess". In return, they donate just 20-50 rupees to the Kumari families.

Some companies charge tourists USD$50 and yet the Kumari family ends up with $0.20 to $0.50 a visit. Not enough to even buy a school book. Moreover, there is no payment allowed to visit. It's just a token donation or offering to the goddess. Imagine paid tours to visit the Pope or another religious figure head ... It's just not right nor allowed. However many of these guides don't believe in the Kumari nor the religion and simply wish to profit.

The truth of the matter is you can get a bus or taxi to visit yourself. It's not hard or difficult. Details are in the posts below and in my guidebook to Nepal. Please don't fall for these tour companies or guides cheating the Kumari. It's just so wrong.

How to visit the Patan Kumari

Of all the Kumaris in the Kathmandu Valley the Patan Kumari is the easiest to visit at the moment. The Kathmandu Kumari is off limits aside from the courtyard in Durbar Square. The Bhaktapur Kumari visits were clamped down following the 2007 scandal. The Bungamati Kumari is a little further out in the valley.

Keep in mind the Patan Kumari changes and the location will also eventually change again depending on the families own residence. Everything is up to date here.

Visiting the Kumari should be treated like visiting a person of religious merit and not a tourist attraction. Leave the selfies at home for this one. Yes you can take a photograph just not one of those "hey look I'm with a living goddess" type ones.

Simply visit Patan Durbar Square. At the southern ticket office instead of going inside take a left. Continue up the street for about 200 feet to Haka Baha (Monastery).

One there enter into the courtyard and look to your left. You'll see a "Kumari Living Goddess" sign. Ring the bell or say Namaste and someone will attend to you.

You'll be brought before the Living Goddess. You should kneel. Don't try to talk to her. Remember the rules and what it means if she does one of the following.

Picking at food offerings will be associated with financial losses

Crying is associated with illness or death

Trembling means an impending imprisonment

Silence is perhaps the greatest thing for a visitor as it means their wishes are likely to be upheld

There will be a dish by her feet. You may leave an offering of 20-50 rupees here. Traditionally you should also touch her feet for a second or two. Stand up and leave.

That's it. Very simple. No need for a tour guide is there!

You can read about my visit to the Kumari below for a more in depth look at this incredible tradition in Nepal.